Chapter 6: Alliance Between Shareholders and Executives?

3:00 p.m., Sihai Group Conference Room.

Yang Chen entered the conference room carrying a thick stack of documents. By now, all the shareholders and top executives of the group had already gathered.

Just as Yang Chen and Wang Wenkang had anticipated, these shareholders and executives looked down on Yang Chen, genuinely believing he was nothing more than a scapegoat. Each wore an expression of disdain, sneering down their noses.

Fortunately, Yang Chen was well-prepared; otherwise, dealing with them would have been difficult.

At that moment, Yang Chen realized there was no seat reserved for him.

Damn it!

Even before he arrived, they had prepared a show of force.

The shareholders and executives, seeing Yang Chen searching in vain for a seat, all wore smug, schadenfreude-filled smiles.

Yang Chen remained unruffled. He placed his documents on the table and sat down on them, casually playing a game on his phone.

President Xia Yuliang knocked on the table, wearing a stern face, and asked, “Weren’t you here for a meeting?”

Yang Chen continued playing without looking up. “If you’re not in a hurry, neither am I.”

“If you have nothing to say, don’t waste everyone’s time. Your time may be worthless, but ours certainly isn’t,” Xia Yuliang snapped.

Without lifting his head, Yang Chen replied, “If you want to leave, go ahead. I’m not stopping you.”

Xia Yuliang leaned back in his chair, crossing his feet on the table, exuding arrogance. “If it weren’t out of respect for Mayor Wang, who would even bother coming here? Don’t pretend to be mighty—you’re nobody to be feared!”

Laughter erupted throughout the room.

Yang Chen finished his game, then put away his phone and said, “Those of you who just laughed, raise your hands so I can see.”

Xia Yuliang was the first to raise his hand, followed by all the others, smiling broadly—including Secretary Wang Song.

Yang Chen walked over to Wang Song, gently patted his shoulder, and said, “A new emperor, new ministers. With Wang Sihai gone, as his secretary, you should step down as well.”

Wang Song laughed heartily. “All shareholders and executives except you support my continuation in this role. If you don’t want chaos in the group, you’d better not touch any of us. Otherwise, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”

President Xia Yuliang chimed in, “Exactly! We’ve formed a coalition of shareholders and executives. All present here today, if you dare to fire one of us, the rest will unite to make sure you can’t continue. Don’t think owning 67% of the shares lets you do as you please. The waters here run deep, and you can’t navigate them.”

Laughter filled the room again.

Yang Chen smiled as he returned to his documents, pulled out Xia Yuliang’s file, and tossed it at his face.

“Take a good look,” Yang Chen said with a smile.

Xia Yuliang glanced at the file, and just one look was enough to make his previously flushed face turn pale. He quickly snapped the folder shut.

Yang Chen went back and pulled out Secretary Wang Song’s file, throwing it at him as well.

Wang Song opened the folder, but after a single glance, he too quickly closed it, his rosy cheeks paling instantly.

Yang Chen grinned. “See that? I have a little magic. Just a casual toss, and President Xia and Secretary Wang’s complexions have turned pale. Anyone else want their skin to turn as white as theirs?”

Everyone noticed the change in the president and secretary’s expressions. They knew the files held something serious and dared not speak, fearing Yang Chen would throw their own files at them next.

Yang Chen’s expression darkened. Scanning the room, he said, “What, no one wants the chance to brighten their complexion instantly? Those of you who laughed earlier, laugh again for me.”

The atmosphere grew heavy; shareholders and executives all wore stern faces.

“Who raised their hands just now? Raise them again for me,” Yang Chen demanded.

The tension grew thicker...

After a few seconds, Cao Kang, vice president in charge of Sihai Finance, slammed the table and shouted, “What are you pretending? You’re just a scapegoat, yet you actually take yourself seriously?”

Yang Chen drew out Cao Kang’s file and slid it across the table with force. Cao Kang pouted, blocking the folder, scoffed, then opened it for just one glance. His rebellious expression softened immediately.

Yang Chen smiled. “See? My magic is powerful. Not only does it turn skin pale, it can tame tempers. Vice President Cao, say again what you just said. What am I to you?”

Cao Kang’s eyes flickered nervously, stammering, “I... I said earlier... Director Yang is the hope of Sihai Group. We should all follow your lead and work together to help the group out of its difficulties.”

Yang Chen smiled calmly. President Xia Yuliang hurriedly stood up, bowing and saying, “Director Yang, please have a seat. This should be your place. I really should be ashamed for sitting in the wrong seat.”

He slapped himself on the face as he spoke.

Yang Chen chuckled. “No rush. It’s not too late to sit down after I finish cleaning things up.”

Xia Yuliang’s legs trembled uncontrollably. Shaking, he asked, “Director Yang, what do you mean by that?”

Just then, the sound of police sirens echoed from outside.

Everyone rushed to the windows or stepped outside to see what was happening.

More than a dozen police cars pulled up and parked in front of the office building.

Yang Chen smiled. “Stop looking. I have evidence on every one of you. Before the police come inside, those who show loyalty to me won’t be arrested.”

Immediately, everyone scrambled back, vying to get close to Yang Chen to show their loyalty.

“Director Yang, I will follow you faithfully from now on. Whatever you say, I’ll do—no objections!”

“Director Yang, you’re like my own father. It was Wang Sihai’s mismanagement that led me to make foolish mistakes. I promise to hand over all illegal gains to you. Please give me a chance.”

“Director Yang, I’ll surrender all the illegal profits to you as well. Give me a chance to reform. I’ll be your loyal dog—just tell me who to bite, and I will.”

“Mr. Yang, please give me a chance. I can offer anything. I beg you!”

...

All this talk of “dog’s tail-wagging” and executive alliances—each one of them was groveling like a beggar.

Yang Chen laughed. “Alright! Alright! I see everyone’s loyalty except for three people: President Xia Yuliang, Secretary Wang Song, and Vice President Cao Kang. The three of you can go explain yourselves to the police.”

Xia Yuliang was truly terrified. He knelt and pleaded, “Sir, give me a chance. I know I was wrong. I’ll resign voluntarily, surrender all illegal gains. Please, I beg you.”

Wang Song and Cao Kang also knelt, begging for mercy, fully aware of their crimes. If prosecuted, they faced at least twenty years in prison.

If all shareholders and executives were taken away, Sihai Group would indeed fall into chaos.

But if everyone were released, it wouldn’t serve as a deterrent.

Others could use these scandals as leverage. The three most vocal opponents—Xia Yuliang, Wang Song, and Cao Kang—had to be sent away.

“You three can beg the judge for mercy. If he chooses to forgive you, consider yourselves lucky. If not, you deserve your punishment!” Yang Chen said with a smile.

As Yang Chen refused to give them a chance, Xia Yuliang suddenly stood and grabbed a pen, stabbing fiercely toward Yang Chen’s neck.

“Damn it! If you won’t give us a way out, then don’t expect to live!” Xia Yuliang snarled viciously.